Wayne Bennett defiant as he defends Matt Lodge's right to return to NRL

Defiant as ever, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett says controversial signing Matthew Lodge deserves his place in the NRL and has done everything required to be given another chance in the code.

Lodge will start at prop for the Broncos when they open the NRL season on Thursday night against the Dragons. But the football has been barely mentioned as Lodge continues to deal with the ramifications of his wild night in New York in 2015.

Last chance: Matt Lodge has impressed in training with Brisbane.Credit:AAP

A drunk Lodge terrorised a family, narrowly avoided jail and was ordered to pay $1.6m in compensation by a US civil court. Fairfax Media revealed not a cent of that had been paid, while frightening footage of the attack has surfaced over the past week.

Bennett was staunch in the face of questioning from media on Wednesday, saying the Broncos had 'handled it well as a club' and Lodge had been a model citizen since he signed on at Red Hill.

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"It doesn’t matter where I think it’s (criticism) justified or not. The fact is it’s happened. I can’t change it. Matt’s been really good about it, he’s handled it well and we’ve handled it well as a club," Bennett said.

"I saw Matt three years ago and told him his behaviour wasn’t acceptable and if he wanted to come here, he’d have to make some changes. He’s been wonderful in the last couple of years. I’ve got no criticism of his behaviour at all. We’ve worked with him for 18 months here.

"I’m not going to detail the changes. I’ve seen the changes, that’s all that matters. He’s a football player. We’ve got standards here, high standards, and he will live up to those standards."

An interview with Lodge will air on Fox Sports on Wednesday night but he has been off limits to beat reporters in Brisbane. That won't change yet, Bennett said, while he lashed out at the timing of the stories.

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"What I can’t understand is that he’s been here for 15 months. You’ve all seen him here, you’ve all seen the training. He signed a contract with us to play here and all of a sudden, a fortnight off the season, you make him national news with nothing but massive amounts of criticism.

"Where were you the last 18 months?

"You still haven’t had an opportunity to talk to him. Nothing’s changed. (Maybe) when he plays some football."

Some of Lodge's work to rehabilitate himself have come to light over recent days but Bennett said it would have made difference if that had been communicated to fans earlier.

"No. You’ve (media) got your agenda. You’ve got that. I know that. I don’t why it all started but it did... it wouldn’t have made any difference.

"You all knew what was going on. We’ve broken no rules. He’s broken no rules. He’s paid a price for what he’s done. We’re all moving on. Can you understand that? Life’s going on.

"On one hand, you guys preach rehabilitation. He’s done that and the game has given him another opportunity in life. We’ve just come along as one of the 16 franchises in the game to say we want him to play here. Simple as that."

Bennett said he wasn't aware whether Lodge had plans to begin paying back some of the money owed to his victims in the United States, saying the incident had happened before he arrived at the club.

"I’m not in that part of the world. I’m sure he’s done that. You’re talking about things that don’t impact on me or the club. I’m sure he’s got all the good intentions in the world."

Lodge has been signed on a base level one-year deal but is regarded as an elite talent and potential representative player in the future.